Stags' Second Semester Surge: A Tale of Two Teams

The Fairfield University Stags are no strangers to transformation. Each season, they seem to embody two distinct identities: the team that battles through early growing pains and the team that emerges after the intersession break, firing on all cylinders. Heading into the break with a 3-5-2 record this season, Fairfield appears to be following its well-known script.

But if history has taught us anything, it's that the Stags thrive when it matters most. Over the past two seasons, Fairfield has made a habit of shaking off its slow starts to dominate in the second semester—securing key wins, thrilling playoff victories, and deep National Championship runs. It’s this remarkable ability to evolve and excel under pressure that has defined their identity as a program: a tale of two teams, one setting the stage for the other’s success.

The Pattern of Peaks
This is not unfamiliar territory for Fairfield. Two seasons ago, during the 2022-23 regular season, the Stags entered the break with a respectable 9-5-0-1 record. What followed was a second-semester explosion: a dominant 6-1-1 run that propelled them into the finals of the Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference playoffs. Despite falling short in overtime, their momentum carried them deep into the National Championship tournament. Fairfield shone on the national stage, winning their first two pool play games, tying their third, and knocking out their rival, Farmingdale State College, in the quarterfinals. They dispatched Niagara University in the semifinals before falling to Binghamton University in the finals.

Last season was more of the same. The Stags entered the break at 7-5-2 but flipped the switch in the second semester. They went 5-1-2, capturing their third Conference Championship in an overtime thriller against Farmingdale State College—avenging their Conference Finals loss from the year prior. They showed their tenacity again at the National Championships, pushing eventual champion South Carolina to the brink in the first pool play game. They came as close as anyone to defeating the eventual champions, ultimately suffering an overtime loss, before finishing pool play with a win over Fordham.

2024-25: Familiar Faces, Big Expectations
This season, Fairfield has once again struggled to hit its stride early, but history tells us they’re far from finished. The Stags have retained much of their core group of players—individuals who have repeatedly shown up in high-pressure moments. This veteran leadership and postseason experience will be invaluable as the team gears up for the second semester.

The Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference Purple Division remains as competitive as ever, but Fairfield’s knack for peaking when it counts has been their hallmark. They’ve proven time and again that they can go toe-to-toe with the best when the stakes are highest.

Building Momentum
If history repeats itself, Fairfield’s second-semester surge is imminent. With clutch performers and a battle-tested lineup, the Stags are primed to make another deep run in the Conference Playoffs and the National Championship. While their early-season record may not reflect the team’s ultimate potential, Fairfield knows that what matters most is how they finish.

The road ahead won’t be easy, with battles against Farmingdale, Quinnipiac, and Binghamton in their near future, but the Stags have never backed away from a late-season challenge. As the second half of the season looms, one thing is clear: Fairfield is ready to write the next chapter in their storied tradition of rising to the occasion.

Will this be the year they take the next step? Time will tell—but if the past is any indicator, the Stags are about to heat up at the perfect time.

Photo Credit: Allyson Eames I @allyeamesphotography (Instagram)